American Lung Association Urges Governor Walker to Protect People with Pre-existing Conditions, Veto December 2018 Extraordinary Session Bills

Statement of Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association, in response to the Wisconsin legislature passing the December 2018 Extraordinary Session bills that were strongly opposed by the American Lung Association:  

"The American Lung Association is deeply disappointed in the Wisconsin legislature for passing the December 2018 Extraordinary Session bills. This legislation will force Governor-elect Tony Evers to implement the destructive Medicaid 1115 Waiver, which will add harmful barriers resulting in thousands of low-income Wisconsinites losing their health coverage. 

"This legislation has national implications as well. Despite overwhelmingly strong support for protecting people with pre-existing conditions and ensuring they have quality and affordable healthcare, this legislation would force Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul to continue to pursue Texas v. U.S., federal litigation, that could take away these Affordable Care Act protections.

"The American Lung Association strongly urges Governor Scott Walker to veto this legislation because it will result in fewer people having access to quality and affordable healthcare, including 646,000 people living in Wisconsin with lung disease."

For media interested in speaking with an expert about healthcare coverage issues, contact the American Lung Association at [email protected] or 312-801-7628.